Mobile Police investigating officers moonlighting on company time

Mobile Police Chief Micheal Williams confirmed on Tuesday that his department is investigating several officers who have reportedly been working outside jobs while on the clock for the city.

MOBILE, Ala. -- Mobile Police Chief Micheal Williams confirmed on Tuesday that his department is investigating several officers who have reportedly been working outside jobs while on the clock for the city.

Williams declined to release details about their activities. He said the investigation should be complete by Thursday, when details of any violations will be disclosed, including the names of the officers involved.

“This is one of those things where we have to clean house,” he said. “We have no reservations about doing that.”

Williams said department policy regulates how officers work outside jobs.

Officers must fill out an application before taking the job, Williams said, and each request comes across his desk before it’s approved.

Williams declined to say whether the officers at the center of the investigation were approved for their outside jobs, saying that would be discussed Thursday.

With a starting salary of $29,361, officers have no excuse for resorting to cheating the department in order to earn extra money, Williams said.

“I’ve been a policeman for 23 years and never worked extra jobs,” he said.

Punishment for double dipping on the department’s dime would be considered an ethical violation, he said, and garner punishment ranging from suspension to termination.

The officers involved have been cooperative, he said. “They don’t have a choice.”